You are very devoted @Mary Louise, I am sure your cooking is appreciated. Waiting for results to come through or medical situation to be clearer is very stressful, you are in my thoughts.
Very sad for all impacted by the Bondi Junction events, very very sad. We used to sometimes take Cheery son there for a treat when we had planned treatments in Sydney. Even though not a resident it all felt too close for comfort, even here.
Enjoying beautiful autumn days though having to change clothes at lunchtime for something cooler is a bit of a pest! I know I'll be wishing myself back by July when it's really cold!
Autumn here has left some really beautiful leaves. I think they have lasted longer on the ground due to even lower rainfall in Christchurch than usual and some unseasonably hot days.
You are very devoted @Mary Louise, I am sure your cooking is appreciated. Waiting for results to come through or medical situation to be clearer is very stressful, you are in my thoughts.
Very sad for all impacted by the Bondi Junction events, very very sad. We used to sometimes take Cheery son there for a treat when we had planned treatments in Sydney. Even though not a resident it all felt too close for comfort, even here.
Enjoying beautiful autumn days though having to change clothes at lunchtime for something cooler is a bit of a pest! I know I'll be wishing myself back by July when it's really cold!
I don't remember ever going there. W've not been told by anyone that they were there, even in a group email. It's still very distressing. How could someone reach that condition?
My daughter and granddaughter were visiting Sydney for a few days from Tassie. They went shopping at Westfield on Saturday which naturally alarmed me. I was unable to contact them for several hours, but thankfully they were ok. They feel quite traumatised, but don't want to talk about what happened. I just feel thankful that there were no high powered weapons involved or we might have had another Port Arthur experience. I'm very anxious for my family to return home so that I can be reassured that they are ok.
I'm very glad your family are safe @rhubarb. Perhaps they just need space and will talk in their own time, when they are ready. I too was glad of our gun laws and felt the tragedy could have been so much worse (that's not to minimise how terrible it is for those affected).
@Gee D we used to go to either Eastgardens or Bondi Junction because whenever we were in town, we tried to add a sweetener to the trip, and both places easily accessible from where we were staying. Perhaps for us it represented a type of normal and I think that's why it's more shocking to me than another place that I may never have visited.
Glorious mild autumn weather out here. As some of you know, I've been going through a great personal crisis with my partner's health and, being sleepless and frazzled, decided against going to church and facing a barrage of well-meant questions, speculation and advice, so watched the streaming of Good Shepherd Sunday Mass from Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral. Such a pleasure to hear a (mostly) sung Mass, rare out here.
@MaryLouise - the first word that came to mind was "variable."
I don't currently have the technology to play my CDs so am searching You Tube for music. I was delighted to rediscover Judy Small, former High Court Judge now back singing, although the concert on You Tube wasn't professionally recorded.
I am such a ditz, having just woken up to the fact that tomorrow is ANZAC day - somehow I thought it was next week. Now I am going to have to do today what I had planned for tomorrow, because of shops being closed tomorrow (morning only for some, but buses will be less frequent all day.)
I don't know if any of you have read this morning's SMH online, but there's an article by Peter Fitzsimons on Churchill's anti-Australian activities during WW II which would have any of the Fairfaxes, along with Menzies, rolling in their graves. Nothing new in the article itself, just what many of us have been saying for decades, but never seen its like before in the SMH.
I always find ANZAC week gives me lots of mixed feelings, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
Last weekend on our local radio there was much chat about ANZAC biscuits. I haven't made any for years, but decided to modify my recipe to get a chewier biscuit. I think I succeeded but I think I made them a bit on the thick side.
I gave one batch to husband as he has a number of culturally diverse team members in his workplace and thought they might like to try them. That seemed to be well received.
I made a second batch for daughter, which her work colleagues enjoyed as well.
I did read the SMH article and I made a print out to put with the photo of our family member who died of wounds in WWI. He is buried in France. My Nanna's brother was a prisoner of war who died and is buried in Thailand. I know no-one in my branch of the family has ever visited their grave sites. It's something I would like to do when we are properly retired.
I often wonder how their return might have impacted relationships and family history.
I too have mixed feelings about ANZAC Day. All of my uncles on both sides of the family who went, returned from the war, (dad was too young), but the ones I knew best were left with physical or mental injuries the affected their lives. One Uncle was in a reserved occupation and wasn't physically fit enough anyway, was handed a white feather by an outraged woman - he bowed politely and handed it back.
I listened to Judy Small (Australian singer and retired Judge) on You Tube, while I stitched some small pieces of needlework for a project that has a (self imposed) deadline of Tuesday.
As has become the new usual, we went to the service held in the park a suburb north from us. A good crowd, somewhere around the 2,000 mark. The usual talk by the local member, laying of wreathes, Last Post and Reveille, then the national anthem. The service used be held at the nearby war memorial, but that caused some drivers to detour a substantial way (there's an adjoining bridge over the train line). We still lay our wreath at the memorial itself.
I always find ANZAC week gives me lots of mixed feelings, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
Last weekend on our local radio there was much chat about ANZAC biscuits. I haven't made any for years, but decided to modify my recipe to get a chewier biscuit. I think I succeeded but I think I made them a bit on the thick side.
I gave one batch to husband as he has a number of culturally diverse team members in his workplace and thought they might like to try them. That seemed to be well received.
I made a second batch for daughter, which her work colleagues enjoyed as well.
[snip]
.
Won't you post your ANZAC biscuit recipe in the Recipes thread, @Cheery Gardener? I am planning on baking some rusks and biscuits next week and would like to try a new recipe. I don't know if you saw this Guardian piece on the perfect ANZAC biscuit.
My partner is home, very weak, and I am doing the home nursing with much trepidation. Sticking to chicken soup (the ultimate panacea) and unexciting steamed greens. She has taken to describing my cooking as 'wholesome', not really a compliment.
A hug for you @Mary Louise, I'm glad your partner will be home, but that is a lot to keep on top of. Best wishes to you both.
It's funny you mentioned the Guardian biscuit article, I'd just finished reading it before coming to the ship! My recipe is virtually identical to the one online! Instead of raw sugar, I used half brown sugar and half stevia, to try to keep the calories down a bit!!
I think today will be a bit of autumn tidying in the garden. The last few days have been beautiful here, but coolish overnight. I think the heater will be going on very soon!
Not using heating yet!!!! Admittedly, we've not so far lit the fire, but we've been turning the heat on most nights for a few weeks.
We've discovered a pleasant coffee shop a few suburbs south. Only open Thursday to Sundays, close to the station and an easy walk downhill on a mostly quiet street to a much busier suburb with a large greengrocery. So train to coffee, a pleasant walk, and train home.
@MaryLouise when the chemo wrecked my digestion in 2022, the next thing I was able to cope with after chicken broth was small serves of sliced banana and plain yoghurt.
I haven't used any heating yet either. I tend to add extra clothes and bed covers first. People receiving superannuation like me are eligible for an extra $20 per week winter fuel allowance that starts sometime in May. I'm really surprised the Government haven't clawed back this money so they can give their promised tax cuts. They are demanding other sectors such as Police and hospitals cut their spending.
There's a man who sells possum and merino socks (amongst other things) in Cathedral Square- nicely placed between Turanga, the Central Library and the Bus Interchange. The socks are too thick to fit into my shoes, but are wonderful bed socks. I find that warm feet make such a difference.
@MaryLouise Thinking of you and U, and hoping her recovery goes smoothly.
Thanks @Huia, we're doing OK at the moment and the home nursing will hopefully come to feel more natural as the weeks pass.
Yes, warm feet are the big thing in winter! Out here we have alpaca farms: socks and scarves from alpaca wool are highly prized, along with mohair from Angora goats who thrive in the Karoo.
My sister has a beautiful possum wool (is that the right term?) jacket which keeps her toasty. She is a real frog and feels the cold, so when she tells me something keeps her warm, I am inclined to believe it!
I've been thinking of you @MaryLouise in your home nursing. It doesn't seem to take long for a routine to develop and for new skills to become solidified. I still remember getting instruction in the hospital in how to set up the naso-gastric feeds for our son, he used to have these overnight. A skill that I'm more than happy to no longer need. I hope things are going well. Does the hospital give you a contact person that can advise you if needed? We used to have one and I found that helpful as we were a long way from our treating place. Thinking of you very much as it's not an easy job even when it's done with love!
@Cheery Gardener I do have local retired nursing sisters and health workers I call on, but resources are very stretched here. I'm getting better and more confident as I carry on, but will be very relieved when I can take a break.
We take short walks when my partner is able, a pleasure in this balmy autumn weather. There are harvest celebrations in many small villages and church halls at the moment and this coming week apple festivals with competitions for baked apple pies and tartes tatins.
My sister has a beautiful possum wool (is that the right term?) jacket which keeps her toasty. She is a real frog and feels the cold, so when she tells me something keeps her warm, I am inclined to believe it!
There used be a shop at a nearby shopping mall specialising in NZ products, including possum wool socks, gloves and jackets. Not cheap to buy, but what we bought years ago is still going strong.
Glad to hear that U is able to take the occasional walk - I hope it will do both of you the world of good! I love autumn, which would be my favourite time for doing any kind of outdoor walking!
The latest political poll shows that if an election were held now in Aotearoa/ NZ we would have a different Government. I would bet most of those who answered will forget this befort the next election, unless the current lot offer another tax cut as a bribe again.
That doesn't surprise me at all @Huia, I think sometimes elections are used to send a message of displeasure to the incumbents, without enough thought going into, will we be happy with the alternative, do they represent my values, do I think they can do a better job?. Often we want governments to fix problems that are part of the greater world situation and it's not possible in such a short timeframe, if at all.
@Mary Louise, I do hope you manage some lovely walks with U, that sounds like a lovely way to pass time and slowly build up strength too.
@GeeD if I recall correctly my sister mentioned that her lovely jacket was not cheap, but overall it's probably worn better than any cheaper garment and it certainly doesn't owe her anything. She always looks after her things carefully too, so I imagine it will be going strong for years to come!
I have to have a very early night tonight as we have scored an early appointment with son's dentist. We haven't taken him since covid and sadly I suspect this might be his last visit as is a Specialist Paeds one and he is really too old now. I've always been impressed with him because he knew exactly what dental issues to expect post chemo and has been great with him, he has never feared going to visit him, so it will be a loss, but life goes on!
@MaryLouise when the chemo wrecked my digestion in 2022, the next thing I was able to cope with after chicken broth was small serves of sliced banana and plain yoghurt.
Hi @WormInTheGrass I keep meaning to come back to this and say how much I agree, bananas and yoghurt are ideal foods for invalids!
Good luck with the visit to your son's dentist, @Cheery Gardener.
Well the dentist went well! Son's teeth looking good except for the short roots on his front teeth, that comes from his treatment many years ago. Dentist is happy to keep seeing him, which I appreciate. We left the house just after 7.30 to get to our appointment. I'm glad I planned to allow plenty of time to get ready as today was the first day that the car windscreen was covered in ice. Managed to get it off, wiped all the windows dry and got to the appointment on time.
Yesterday in a shopping outing I came away with an enormous bag of green beans. Today I have blanched them and put them in the freezer. They will come in very handy!
@WormInTheGrass I also noted the suggestion of bananas and yoghurt, when son was sick he wouldn't eat a lot, but we could always get him to accept a banana smoothie which included yoghurt. It certainly was a lifesaver!
Yesterday I spent a lovely day watching a video of 84 Charing Cross Rd, which I enjoyed, despite later reading some scathing reviews on-line. In the afternoon I picked up pine cones which I delivered to my next door neighbour who has a burner which also heats her water.
A friend has a contract to clear some old pine trees on a farm, so I have a day in the country and get some exercise - the pinecones are a bonus which I share around the neighbourhood.
It's good being part of a neighbourhood like this - I get my internet free from my next door neighbour on the other side who used my garage for storage when she moved in.
Oh I remember reading that collection of letters between a passionate reader and an old-fashioned bookshop, loved it.
Left the front door open while out at the back and the wind blew in a carpet of fallen leaves. Usually in May I am busy with preserves and curing olives at this time of year, feel quite lost. A friend who has a home in the Hemel n Aarde valley near the coast posted on social media about her decision to pick and rake down all the ripe calamata olives on their trees, a labour of love that involved drop sheets, picking out twigs, leaves and pebbles before packing the crop into crates, and hiring time on a grinder to process the olives. She has ended up with eight jars of very peppery pressed olive oil and swears never again.
Thanks for the replies, @MaryLouise and @Cheery Gardener. I hope you and U are managing in a very difficult situation, @MaryLouise. Glad the dentist went well, @Cheery Gardener. I think you must be slightly more out of town than us, as we haven’t had frost on the lawn yet. I must say that when we finally got a garage about ten years ago, it was fantastic not having to scrape ice any more.
@WormInTheGrass , I am so embarassed to confess that a lack of garages is not the problem. The lack of garage space due to too much junk is definitely the problem here!! Concentrating on that at present as like you I am not a fan of the ice-scraping!!
@MaryLouise and @Huia, I too remember with great affection 84 Charing Cross Raod. I loved the book but have only watched the film in the last year or so! The story always reminds me of my Mum because I think she put me onto Helene Hanff's books.
In between radiology appointments and sickbed crises, I am clearing leaf-clogged gutters for incoming winter rainstorms. Very grateful for rain and hoping for a wet winter.
Ooh, @MaryLouise Louise, be safe doing your gutters! We are expecting rain all over the weekend and as we've had a dry spell, will be much appreciated. On the coast I think they have had a drenching and will probably be happy if the rain moves away from them!
I was just listening to the news and there's a possibility of power cuts all over NZ between 7 am and 9am tomorrow. The forecast temperature here then is -2C, and like many people in Christchurch I rely on electricity for heating as both my chimneys were demolished by earthquakes.
I've decided to get up and have breakfast at 6 a,m with Aroha, but I definitely won't be sharing her food.
That reminded me of an ancient Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy reflects, "I could never be a cat because I could never eat a cold mouse on a foggy morning".
I hope Zappa has a good alternative heating source.
That is good news @Huia! Having no power, especially over an extended period, I can think of nothing worse!
Anticipating a quiet and wet weekend. Perhaps I'll start a book, or a cross stitch, even. Have to work out Mothers' Day logistics with husband today (urk).
Yes, good news, @Huia! We are not experiencing the usual power black-outs here because national elections are coming up so the ruling party is making sure to keep voters happy for now.
@Cheery Gardener I am at home for a wet and windy weekend (my partner still in hospital) and planning to bake a French apple tart called Tarte Normande to use up a glut of apples gifted to me by neighbours. The classic tarte Normande uses a homemade buttery crust, heavy cream and a whack of Calvados (apple brandy), but I am using my faithful rough-puff pastry recipe, less cream and some Cointreau, and hoping for the best.
Comments
Very sad for all impacted by the Bondi Junction events, very very sad. We used to sometimes take Cheery son there for a treat when we had planned treatments in Sydney. Even though not a resident it all felt too close for comfort, even here.
Enjoying beautiful autumn days though having to change clothes at lunchtime for something cooler is a bit of a pest! I know I'll be wishing myself back by July when it's really cold!
I love the sound of shuffling through them.
I don't remember ever going there. W've not been told by anyone that they were there, even in a group email. It's still very distressing. How could someone reach that condition?
@Gee D we used to go to either Eastgardens or Bondi Junction because whenever we were in town, we tried to add a sweetener to the trip, and both places easily accessible from where we were staying. Perhaps for us it represented a type of normal and I think that's why it's more shocking to me than another place that I may never have visited.
I don't currently have the technology to play my CDs so am searching You Tube for music. I was delighted to rediscover Judy Small, former High Court Judge now back singing, although the concert on You Tube wasn't professionally recorded.
I am such a ditz, having just woken up to the fact that tomorrow is ANZAC day - somehow I thought it was next week. Now I am going to have to do today what I had planned for tomorrow, because of shops being closed tomorrow (morning only for some, but buses will be less frequent all day.)
Last weekend on our local radio there was much chat about ANZAC biscuits. I haven't made any for years, but decided to modify my recipe to get a chewier biscuit. I think I succeeded but I think I made them a bit on the thick side.
I gave one batch to husband as he has a number of culturally diverse team members in his workplace and thought they might like to try them. That seemed to be well received.
I made a second batch for daughter, which her work colleagues enjoyed as well.
I did read the SMH article and I made a print out to put with the photo of our family member who died of wounds in WWI. He is buried in France. My Nanna's brother was a prisoner of war who died and is buried in Thailand. I know no-one in my branch of the family has ever visited their grave sites. It's something I would like to do when we are properly retired.
I often wonder how their return might have impacted relationships and family history.
Lest we forget.
I listened to Judy Small (Australian singer and retired Judge) on You Tube, while I stitched some small pieces of needlework for a project that has a (self imposed) deadline of Tuesday.
As has become the new usual, we went to the service held in the park a suburb north from us. A good crowd, somewhere around the 2,000 mark. The usual talk by the local member, laying of wreathes, Last Post and Reveille, then the national anthem. The service used be held at the nearby war memorial, but that caused some drivers to detour a substantial way (there's an adjoining bridge over the train line). We still lay our wreath at the memorial itself.
Won't you post your ANZAC biscuit recipe in the Recipes thread, @Cheery Gardener? I am planning on baking some rusks and biscuits next week and would like to try a new recipe. I don't know if you saw this Guardian piece on the perfect ANZAC biscuit.
My partner is home, very weak, and I am doing the home nursing with much trepidation. Sticking to chicken soup (the ultimate panacea) and unexciting steamed greens. She has taken to describing my cooking as 'wholesome', not really a compliment.
It's funny you mentioned the Guardian biscuit article, I'd just finished reading it before coming to the ship! My recipe is virtually identical to the one online! Instead of raw sugar, I used half brown sugar and half stevia, to try to keep the calories down a bit!!
I think today will be a bit of autumn tidying in the garden. The last few days have been beautiful here, but coolish overnight. I think the heater will be going on very soon!
We've discovered a pleasant coffee shop a few suburbs south. Only open Thursday to Sundays, close to the station and an easy walk downhill on a mostly quiet street to a much busier suburb with a large greengrocery. So train to coffee, a pleasant walk, and train home.
There's a man who sells possum and merino socks (amongst other things) in Cathedral Square- nicely placed between Turanga, the Central Library and the Bus Interchange. The socks are too thick to fit into my shoes, but are wonderful bed socks. I find that warm feet make such a difference.
@MaryLouise Thinking of you and U, and hoping her recovery goes smoothly.
Yes, warm feet are the big thing in winter! Out here we have alpaca farms: socks and scarves from alpaca wool are highly prized, along with mohair from Angora goats who thrive in the Karoo.
I've been thinking of you @MaryLouise in your home nursing. It doesn't seem to take long for a routine to develop and for new skills to become solidified. I still remember getting instruction in the hospital in how to set up the naso-gastric feeds for our son, he used to have these overnight. A skill that I'm more than happy to no longer need. I hope things are going well. Does the hospital give you a contact person that can advise you if needed? We used to have one and I found that helpful as we were a long way from our treating place. Thinking of you very much as it's not an easy job even when it's done with love!
We take short walks when my partner is able, a pleasure in this balmy autumn weather. There are harvest celebrations in many small villages and church halls at the moment and this coming week apple festivals with competitions for baked apple pies and tartes tatins.
Hang in there
ML
There used be a shop at a nearby shopping mall specialising in NZ products, including possum wool socks, gloves and jackets. Not cheap to buy, but what we bought years ago is still going strong.
@Mary Louise, I do hope you manage some lovely walks with U, that sounds like a lovely way to pass time and slowly build up strength too.
@GeeD if I recall correctly my sister mentioned that her lovely jacket was not cheap, but overall it's probably worn better than any cheaper garment and it certainly doesn't owe her anything. She always looks after her things carefully too, so I imagine it will be going strong for years to come!
I have to have a very early night tonight as we have scored an early appointment with son's dentist. We haven't taken him since covid and sadly I suspect this might be his last visit as is a Specialist Paeds one and he is really too old now. I've always been impressed with him because he knew exactly what dental issues to expect post chemo and has been great with him, he has never feared going to visit him, so it will be a loss, but life goes on!
Hi @WormInTheGrass I keep meaning to come back to this and say how much I agree, bananas and yoghurt are ideal foods for invalids!
Good luck with the visit to your son's dentist, @Cheery Gardener.
Yesterday in a shopping outing I came away with an enormous bag of green beans. Today I have blanched them and put them in the freezer. They will come in very handy!
@WormInTheGrass I also noted the suggestion of bananas and yoghurt, when son was sick he wouldn't eat a lot, but we could always get him to accept a banana smoothie which included yoghurt. It certainly was a lifesaver!
A friend has a contract to clear some old pine trees on a farm, so I have a day in the country and get some exercise - the pinecones are a bonus which I share around the neighbourhood.
It's good being part of a neighbourhood like this - I get my internet free from my next door neighbour on the other side who used my garage for storage when she moved in.
Left the front door open while out at the back and the wind blew in a carpet of fallen leaves. Usually in May I am busy with preserves and curing olives at this time of year, feel quite lost. A friend who has a home in the Hemel n Aarde valley near the coast posted on social media about her decision to pick and rake down all the ripe calamata olives on their trees, a labour of love that involved drop sheets, picking out twigs, leaves and pebbles before packing the crop into crates, and hiring time on a grinder to process the olives. She has ended up with eight jars of very peppery pressed olive oil and swears never again.
@MaryLouise and @Huia, I too remember with great affection 84 Charing Cross Raod. I loved the book but have only watched the film in the last year or so! The story always reminds me of my Mum because I think she put me onto Helene Hanff's books.
I've decided to get up and have breakfast at 6 a,m with Aroha, but I definitely won't be sharing her food.
That reminded me of an ancient Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy reflects, "I could never be a cat because I could never eat a cold mouse on a foggy morning".
I hope Zappa has a good alternative heating source.
Anticipating a quiet and wet weekend. Perhaps I'll start a book, or a cross stitch, even. Have to work out Mothers' Day logistics with husband today (urk).
@Cheery Gardener I am at home for a wet and windy weekend (my partner still in hospital) and planning to bake a French apple tart called Tarte Normande to use up a glut of apples gifted to me by neighbours. The classic tarte Normande uses a homemade buttery crust, heavy cream and a whack of Calvados (apple brandy), but I am using my faithful rough-puff pastry recipe, less cream and some Cointreau, and hoping for the best.